Tour De France 2007
Who's going to win the Tour De France this year? I'm favouring Vinokourov for the win, no suprises here as he definitely seems to be most peoples favourite. Vinokourov put in some impressive performances at the Dauphine winning the time trial and another stage as well as helping his team mates to win stages. On the way up Ventoux he was well off the pace but I get the impression he was holding back. As seen at the Dauphine Vinokourov's Astana team is very strong with Andrey Kashechkin and Andreas Kloden who have both been on the Podium at a grand tour before. I really would like to see Vinokourov do well this year, he is such an exciting rider to watch always going out on the attack. If Valverde has recovered from his stomach bug that forced him to withdraw from the Dauphine we may see another Vinokourov vs Valverde showdown like in the Vuelta last year. Other's in with a chance are Levi Leipheimer who didn't go as well in the Dauphine as last year when he won, but quite likely he was taking it easier this time to make sure he had time to fully recover before the Tour De France. Cadel Evans looks likely for a high finish. Christoph Moreau was in great form when he won the Dauphine, the French would certainly like to see him wearing yellow into Paris, it has been a long time since a Frenchman won the tour.
The Course
Although the prologue can give some idea of who's on form we'll most likely have to wait until stages 7 and the climb up the Col de la Colombiere to see the general classification starting to take shape. Then the very next day is stage 8 with it's three first category climb's coming one after another in the last 65km concluding with a mountain top finish to Tignes. The Tignes is an 18km climb with a 5.5% gradient that will surely see some large time gaps. Then after a rest day the 9th stage starts in brutal fashion with an ascent of the Hors Category Col de l'Iseran. Some riders take a while to get back into it after a race day so this climb could produce some unpleasant suprises. Once over the I'Iseran the stage is far from over the tour then goes up the Col du Telegraphe and then straight into the mighty Galibier. The Col du Telegraphe and Galibier almost merge into one with only a 5km descent in between. After cresting the Galibier it's all downhill to the finish in Briancon so anyone who gets away on the climb still has some crazy descending to do if they want to hold their lead. Back onto flatter terrain for the next three stages before the time trial on stage 13. It's unsual to have the first full length time trial so late in the tour. This is a demanding and technical time trial and it's 54km long so it could create some big time gaps. Stage 14 is the first stage in the steep mountains of the Pyrenees near the start of the stage is the Cote de Saint-Sarraille this is merely a warmup compared to the two hors category monsters later in the stage. With the ascent to Port de Pailhres which is 17km long with 7% gradient. Then there is a long descent with very little in the way of flats before the climb up to the mountain top finish at Plateau de Beille, this climb is 16km long with a brutal 8% gradient. Needless to say this will be a very important stage! Then after the time trial and the nasty stage to Plateau de Bellie comes the hardest stage of this years Tour De France. There are 5 climbs 2nd category and above. The first half of the stage features two 2nd category climbs before things really start to get difficult in the second half. Then there is the Km 1st Category climb of Col de Ment which is relatively short at 7km but the 8% gradient certainly packs a punch. Then with about 60km to go the riders will face up to the 19km long hors categorie climb of Port de Bal's. There are no flats before the final climb up the Peyresourde which is 10km at 7.8% gradient so riders that get away on Port de Bales will have a good chance to stay away if their legs hold out. A much needed rest day finally comes after stage 15 to give the riders a chance to recover (or stiffen up) before the finally mountain stage of the tour. This will be a long day with 218km to cycle and 4 nasty climbs to conquer. The tour travels into spanish territory and back out again on this stage. The first climb up the Port de Larrau comes at the 79km mark and it's a big one with 15km of climbing with an 8.1% grade. Then there is a 3rd category climb followed by two cat ones before the big mountain top finish atop the Col d'Aubisque another hors categorie climb, 16.7km long with a 7% gradient. After that there is two stages of gentler rolling terrain before stage 19 the final time trial. This is 55km long and is flatter and less technical than the first time trial but will still create some interesting time gaps especially if a mountain specialist is in the lead at this point. Then the final stage takes the tour into Paris for a sprinter showdown on the Champs-elysees.
